Portable pressing device



March 13, 1934. E. J. LEHNEN El AL 1,950,498

PORTABLE PRESSING DEVICE Filed July 20, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l 19 2 J"fmjerafim Elmer JLehnen. @z'dney 62- Moorey [t 1%. any

March 13, 1934. E. J. LEHNEN ET AL PORTABLE PRESSING DEVICE Filed July20, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iii Patented Mar. 13,

PORTABLE PRESSING DEVICE Elmer J. Lehnen and Sidney A. Moore, Milwaukee,Wis.

Application July 20, 1933, Serial No. 681,235

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in portable creasing and pressingdevices having for an object to provide a device of the charactermentioned which will be particularly advantageous for use in creasingand pressing portions of wearing apparel, such for example, as trousersand the cuffs thereof, coat sleeves, lapels and other elements capableof engagement by the de vice, the forming of pleats in Womens wearingapparel, and in general, for usage in minor pressing operations whereinthe character and nature of the materials to be pressed are such thatthey may be properly engaged by the device.

It is an equally important object of the invention to provide a portablecreasing and pressing device, operable in such a manner that the samemay be utilized to prime or improve the appearance of the wearingapparel of a person by forming or reforming creases therein and bypressing certain portions of the apparel according to conventionaldictates, without the necessity of removing such apparel from the bodyof a person.

Yet another object of the invention is to pro vide a pressing device soconstructed and designed that it may be conveniently packed and carriedas an article of apparel apparatus.

Among other aims and objects of the invention there may be recited theprovision of a device of the character stated embodying a simple, yetdurable construction, capable of being manufactured and sold well withina minimum price range; a device whose operation eliminates the necessityof electrical extension conductors or cords and like inconvenientaccessories, and a device which, when not in use, may be retained insuch compact form that it can be conveniently packed or stored in alimited space.

Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in partpointed out hereinafter.

In order that the invention and its mode of operation may be readilyunderstood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains, we havein the accompanying drawings and in the detailed description basedthereupon, set out several embodiments of our invention.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved device;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the electrical heating andpressing elements employed by thedevice;

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the device;

Figure 4 is a similar section taken at substantially right-angles to thesection illustrated in the Figure 3, and along the line 4-": thereof;

Figure 5 is a transverse section through the device taken on line 5-5 ofFigure 3, looking in the direction in which the arrows point;

Figure 6 is a like section taken on the line 66 of Figure 3, looking inthe direction in which the arrows point;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detail in longitudinal section takenon the line '7-I of Figure 2, looking in the direction in which thearrows point;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the device showing it engaged with asuitable electrical connection or outlet whereby the electrical heatingelements thereof will be energized;

Figure 9 is a schematic View showing the connecting of the electricalheating elements of the device in series;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of thedevice wherein the or hingedly connected casings are provi movable dedwith finger and thumb engaging portions to facilitate handling thereof,and,

Figure 11 is a side elevation of a modified form of the device.

with a suitable finishing material, an

sired, ornamented in any suitable manner.

d if de- The inner sides of the shell-like casings l and 2 are linedwith asbestos sheeting or other suitable heat resistant material such asindicated by the numeral 3; said sections being hingedly interconnectedadjacent certain of their marginal portions at 4, and having the opposefingers 5, of coil springs 6 bearing upon opposite portions of the innersides or" said casings; coil springs 8, of course, being secured inrelatively fixed position with respect to the casings by engaging thesame over the pintle 7 of the hinged connection 4.

Each of the shell-lilre casings l and 2 provided with electrical heatingelements and pressing and smoothing panels. The constructions of saidelements and panels are identical,

and therefore,

in the description hereinafter following, reference will be made to butone of said heating elements and panels,

it being understood that such description will suffice for both thereof.

A rectangularly shaped piece of sheet metal of suitable gauge designatedby the numeral 8 is provided. The size and shape of this metal piece orpanel 8 is such that it will have resting or bearing engagement uponcertain portions of the marginal portions of its particular shelllikecasing, as is well shown in the Figures 1, 5 and 6. A sheet metal piece9 is arranged adjacent one side of the panel 8 and is fixedly securedthereto by rivets 10 or other suitable means. Relatively opposed andinwardly extending clamping ears 11 are integrally formed with theopposite ends and intermediate portion of the piece 9. Directly engagingthe sheet metal piece 9 and disposed longitudinally thereof is anelectrical heating element consisting of a body of mica or othersuitable insulating material 12, having a suitable character ofelectrical conductor or electrical resistance element 13 wrappedthereabout in substantially spiral fashion. One end of the resistanceelement 13 is electrically connected to a contact terminal 14, while theopposite end thereof is electrically connected to a contact terminal 15,which, as illustrated in the Figures 2 and 4 is bent inwardly uponitself and has the free end thereof longitudinally disposed with respectto the outer side of the resistance element in spaced relation thereto.Disposed entirely over the electrical heating element is a sheet ofashestos or other suitable heat insulating material 16. This heatinsulating sheet 16 is securely connected to the inner side of the panel8 and to the metal piece 9 by engaging portions thereof under theinwardly disposed clamping ears 11, which, as will be noted, are forcedinto binding engagement with adjacent portions of said sheet, and hence,serve to securely anchor it to the inner side of the panel 8, andlikewise, shield the normally outer side of the electrical heatingelement, thereby causing the heat radiated therefrom, upon itsenergization, to be directly transmitted to the metal pressing orsmoothing panel 8.

A substantially inverted U-shaped metal bracket 17 is fixedly connected,as at 18 to the inner side of one end of the panel 8, as is well shownin the Figure 2. Connecting or anchoring bolts 19 are passed throughopenings formed in the bracket 17, being insulated from said bracket bymeans of insulating pieces or Washers, generally indicated by thenumeral 20, and serving to fixedly connect the cross-head 21 of a rigidcontact arm 22 thereto. One of the bolts 19 is engaged through andelectrically connected to the outer end of the electrical contactterminal 14. It will be here noted that the contact arm 22longitudinally extends for a distance beyond the panel 8, the purpose ofwhich will be subsequently apparent.

Inorder that the panel 8 with its electrical heating element may besecured and fixedly mounted with respect to the particular shell-likecasing 1 or 2 to receive the same, a second inverted substantiallyU-shaped metal bracket 23 is secured to the intermediate portion of theinner side of the panel 8, as at 24, straddling said electrical heatingelement and the asbestos sheathing 16, as is clearly shown in theFigures 2, 3 and 5. A screw-threaded opening 25 is formed in theintermediate portion of the bracket 23. To arrange or operatively mountthe panel 8 and its electrical heating element with respect to theshell-like casing 1 or 2, the assembly thus described is engaged withthe inner and open side of one of said shell-like casings; theelectrical contact arm 22 thereof extending through a recessed portion26 formed in an appropriate portion of the adjacent end wall of thereceiving shell-like casing. At this time, an anchoring or securingscrew 27 is introduced through an opening formed in the receivingshell-like casing 1 or 2, the screwthreaded shank thereof being turnedinto engagement with the opening 25 formed in the metal bracket 23.Obviously, by turning the screw 27 following its engagement with thescrew-threaded opening 25 of the bracket 23, said bracket 23 and byconsequence, the panel 8 with its electrical equipment will be drawninto seating or binding engagement with the adjacent marginal portionsof the inner side of said shell-like casing, and thus, a positive andfixed mounting of the panel with respect to said shelllike casing willbe effected; the electrical heating element of the panel 8, of course,being effectually housed within the receiving shell-like casing.

Each of the shell-like casings 1 and 2, as hereinbefore stated, areprovided with panels 8 and corresponding electrical equipment. Thelongitudinally disposed and outwardly extending contact arms 22, it willbe noted, are so arranged that with positioning of the casings l and 2in juxtaposed relation, as is shown in the Figures 4 and 8, they will bepaired in such a manner as to permit of their introduction into andelectrical contact with the terminals of an ordinary electricalconnection plug 28 adapted to be engaged in a suitable electrical outletconnection, such as indicated by the numeral 29. Of course, if desired,the usage of the electrical connecting plug 28 in connection with thedevice may be omitted, and the paired contact arms 22 may be slidablyintroduced into and electrically engaged with contact terminals of anelectrical wall or floor outlet fitting of well known construction.When, however, the contact arms 22 are engaged with the plug 28, it willbe understood that the hingedly connected casings 1 and 2 of the devicewill be held in their closed or juxtaposed position, hence, facilitatingpack-- ing or placing of the device in a suitable receiving space.

In order that the electrical heating elements 13 connected to theseveral panels 8 carried by the casings l and 2 may be electricallyconnected in series, we provide a short electrical conductor 30,extending said conductor from one casing to the other, adjacent thehinged connection 4 thereof, and electrically connecting it, at itsopposite ends, to the electrical contact terminal 15 of each of theheating elements.

If desired, the hinged connection 4 and the electrical conductor 30 maybe concealed from view, when the casings l and 2 are in their normalopen positions, as is shown in the Figure 1, by providing an outwardlyextending flange 31 upon the rearward marginal portion of one of thepanels 8, as is shown in the Figures 5 and 6. The flange 31 extends fromthe rearward portion of one of the casings outwardly into the adjacentportion of the opposite casing and rearwardly of the panel 8 of thelatter. Thus, when the casings 1 and 2 are in relative normal positions,as shown in the Figure 1, said flange 31 will serve as a means for.shielding the. hinged connection 4 and the straddling electricalconductor 30 from view; likewise, will give a neater finished appearanceto the device.

In usage of our improved pressing device, and assuming that it isdesired to heat the pressing or smoothing panels 8 thereof, the hingedcasings 1 and 2 are swung to their closed or juxtaposed positionswhereupon the contact arms 22 are engaged in and electrically connectedwith an electrical plug fitting such as indicated by the numeral 28. Theplug fitting 28, in turn, may be engaged in a suitable type ofelectrical socket or electrical outlet fixture. When so connected, anelectrical circuit will be established through the electrical heatingelements 13, energizing the same and causing the heat produced therebyto be directly transmitted to the pressing or smoothing panels 8. Whenthe panels 8 have been heated to the desired temperature, the device isdisengaged from the plug 28. At such time, the casings 1 and 2 will bemoved to their open positions, as indicated in the Figure 1, underinfluence of the coil springs 6 and their fingers 5 having bearingengagement upon the inner sides of the opposed casings 1 and 2. At suchtime, a portion of the apparel to be pressed by the device is introducedbetween the heated panels 8 of the casings 1 and 2, whereupon thedevice, which is engaged in the hand of a user, has pressure appliedthereto from the users hand in such a manner as to cause the hingedlyconnected casings l and 2, with their respective panels 8 to be broughtinto pressing engagement with said introduced portion or the apparel.

The pressing panels 8, under a predetermined pressure applied theretofrom the users hand will serve to effectually crease and press saidengaged portion of the apparel, after which, the pressure exerted uponthe casings 1 and 2 from the users hand is released, allowing saidcasings 1 and 2 to be immediately returned to their normally openpositions under urge of the coil springs 6. At such time a fresh or newportion of the apparel in process of being pressed or creased by thedevice is engaged thereby and the pressing operation just described isrepeated. This mode of usage is continued until the apparel has beensatisfactorily creased or pressed.

The temperature of the panels 8 following a heating of the same by theelectrical heating elements 13 is such that the device can be used overa considerable period of time for success fully pressing garments orfabrics.

It will be noted that the shield or flange 31, hereinbefore described,serves not only to conceal the hinged joint 4 and the conductor 30 fromview, but also that it serves to limit the extent of introduction offabrics or garments to be pressed into and between the panel-equippedhingedly connected casings 1 and 2, thus, insuring proper relativepositioning of such fabrics or garments with respect to the heatedpressing or smoothing panels 8.

Whereas we have described the usage of our improved device in connectionwith an electrical plug or fitting identified at 28, it will, of course,be understood that usage of the plug may be dispensed with entirely; thepaired electrical contact arms 22 being directly introduced intoengagement with the electrical contact terminals of an ordinaryelectrical floor or wall outlet fitting.

In the Figures 10 and 11, we have shown a slightly modified form ofeasing construction for our improved device. In this modification, thehingedly connected casings l and 2' have their outer side walls providedwith transversely disposed corrugations or channels, generally indicatedby the numeral 32, thus, facilitating the engagement of the fingers andthumb of a users hand with the opposite sides of said casing, byconsequence, enabling the user to more positively grasp the device inapplying the required pressure to the pressing or smoothing panels 8.Obviously, the formation of the finger and thumb engaging portion 32 maybe varied.

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of considerablemodification, and such modification as is within the scope of ourclaims, we consider within the spirit of our invention.

We claim:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a pair of juxtaposedcasings interconnected adjacent certain of their ginal portions, heattransmitting and pressing means carried by the opposed portions of thecasings, heating means contacting said pressing means, said casingsbeing handleless and adapted to be collectively engaged in the hand of auser and moved toward each other under pressure applied by the handthereto.

2. A device of the character described, cornprising a pair of hingedlyinterconnected heat insulating casings, means engaging the casings fornormally retaining them in relative spaced relation, heat transmittingand pressing means carried by the adjacent sides of the casings, heatingmeans within the casings contacting said pressing means, said casingsbeing handleless and adapted to be collectively engaged in the hand or"a user whereby to be moved toward each other to engage said heattransmitting and pressing means with an article positioned therebetweenunder a variable pressure.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a pair of juxtaposedpressing members connected for movement toward and away from oneanother, means urging the members apart, and heating means in heattransmitting relationship to said members, said members being handlelessand adapted to be collectively engaged in the hand of a user and movedtoward each other under pressure applied by the hand thereto.

4. A device of the character described, (30111- prising a pair ofjuxtaposed heat insulating pressing members connected for movementtoward and away from one another, means normally urging the membersapart, electrical heating means in heat transmitting relationship tosaid members, said members being iiandleless and adapted to becollectively engaged in the hand of a user and moved toward other underpressure applied by the hand thereto, and pronglilre electrical contactmeans connected to said electrical heating mean carried by and extendingfrom corresponding portions or" the pressing members, adapted to becollectively engaged with an electrical outlet and at such times, toretain said members in relatively closed position.

ELMER J. LEI-INEN.

SIDNEY A. MOORE.

